The Kraft Heinz Company announced Feb. 11 it is pausing work on its planned separation into two independent companies, instead committing $600 million to accelerate growth efforts as the food manufacturer reported a 15 percent decline in full-year 2025 adjusted earnings. CEO Steve Cahillane, who joined the Pittsburgh and Chicago-based company Jan. 1, said its […]
Category: Industry News
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Finance News, National, News
Swiftly Converts Static Circulars Into Interactive Digital Format
Swiftly has launched SmartCircular, an artificial intelligence-powered tool that transforms grocery retailers’ PDF circulars into interactive digital experiences with engagement tracking. The Seattle-based retail technology company’s new product uses proprietary AI to convert static weekly ads into clickable formats that allow shoppers to browse deals, zoom in on products and add items to shopping lists. […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Finance News, News, Southeast, UNFI
UNFI Spotlights 5 Key Grocery Trends For 2026 Spring Season
United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) brought more than 3,400 retailers and suppliers together at its Spring and Summer Selling Show in Orlando, Florida, to examine five major trends reshaping grocery retail, from private label dominance to the growing emphasis on gut health. The distributor’s Feb. 10-12 event highlighted shifts in shopper behavior that grocers should […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National, News
Bill To Make SNAP Online Purchasing Permanent Introduced In U.S. House
Rep. Mark Messmer (R-IN) and Rep. Adam Gray (D-CA) introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives Feb. 10 to permanently authorize Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to buy groceries online, converting a pilot program launched in 2019 into a permanent feature of the federal nutrition assistance program. The SNAP Online Access Act would […]
Posted inNational, Finance News, News, Store News
LocalDutch Brings Urban Farm Shop Model To U.S.
LocalDutch, a Netherlands-based agri-tech and food retail company, has announced plans to roll out its Urban Farm Shop concept in the United States and other markets. The model integrates on-site controlled-environment food production with direct-to-consumer retail and local delivery in a single location. The company, headquartered in The Hague, calls the concept the “LocalDutch Shop” […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, News, West
Upside Expands Footprint With Save Mart Partnership
Upside has launched across nearly 200 Save Mart Companies stores in California and Nevada, expanding the digital marketplace’s West Coast grocery footprint to stores under the Save Mart, Lucky and FoodMaxx banners. Upside’s platform connects more than 35 million consumers with personalized cash back offers at over 100,000 grocery, restaurant and fuel locations nationwide, delivering […]
Posted inProduce News, Finance News, Independent Store News, News, Northeast
EmpowerFresh Enhances Produce Operations At Karns Quality Foods
EmpowerFresh has partnered with Karns Quality Foods, a 10-store family-owned grocer in central Pennsylvania, to enhance produce operations through artificial intelligence-powered ordering and inventory management. Founded in 1959, Karns Quality Foods has been recognized for its meat and produce departments. The partnership will leverage EmpowerFresh’s AI-driven forecasting and data analytics to help the grocer reduce […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Feature, Finance News, News, West
Instacart Executive Touts Benefits Of Storefront Pro E-Commerce Platform
The Shelby Report of the West recently visited with Merrick Rosner, Instacart’s head of revenue and solution sales, independent grocery, to learn more about the company’s e-commerce platform Storefront Pro. What is involved in training employees on how to use e-commerce platforms like Storefront Pro? Storefront Pro gives grocers of all sizes the ability to […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Grocery Research, National, News
Fresh Produce White Paper Links Fruits, Vegetables To Reduced Disease Risk
The Foundation for Fresh Produce has released a white paper examining how fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases including heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer, the Newark, Delaware-based organization announced Feb. 9. “Fruits, Vegetables, and Human Health: Key Nutrients and Their Role in Chronic Diseases,” written by the foundation’s Chief Medical […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Natural Grocers, News, Southwest, Sustainability News
Natural Grocers Releases 2025 Sustainability Report
Natural Grocers has released its fiscal year 2025 Sustainability Report, marking 70 years of industry leadership and highlighting more than $7 million invested in nutrition education services during the fiscal year. The Lakewood, Colorado-based family-operated organic and natural grocery retailer emphasized its differentiated nutrition education program in this year’s report. It showcases free one-on-one coaching, […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Finance News, Food Lion, News, Southeast
Food Lion Names Barton 2025 Store Manager Of The Year
Amelia Barton, store manager of the Food Lion at 2201 W. WT Harris Blvd. in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been named the grocer’s 2025 Ralph W. Ketner Store Manager Excellence Award winner. Barton was selected from more than 1,100 store managers across the retailer’s 10-state operating area. Named after one of Food Lion’s founders, the […]
Posted inExecutive News, Finance News, Midwest, News, The Kroger Co.
Kroger Appoints Foran As CEO, Ends Interim Leadership
The Kroger Co. has appointed Greg Foran as CEO, effective immediately, ending Ron Sargent’s tenure as interim CEO that began in March 2025. Foran, who brings more than 40 years of experience leading large consumer businesses, will also join Kroger’s board of directors. The Cincinnati-based grocer made the announcement Feb. 9, following an extensive search […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Ahold Delhaize, Merchandising News, National, News, Packaging News
Ahold Delhaize USA, Circana Expand Guiding Stars Nutrition Data Access
Ahold Delhaize USA has renewed its collaboration with Circana to expand access to Guiding Stars nutrition data within Circana’s Attribute Marketplace, giving suppliers greater insight into health and nutrition trends. Suppliers participating in Circana’s Attribute Marketplace will have access to aggregated Guiding Stars data to analyze trends in star-earning foods and beverages, identify category opportunities […]
Posted inSupply Chain News, Deli News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, National, News, Produce News
DeltaTrak Introduces FlashLink NOW Real-Time Loggers
Pleasanton, California-based DeltaTrak has introduced a new generation of its FlashLink NOW real-time loggers, giving fresh product suppliers expanded visibility into cold chain conditions as requirements for accepting shipments continue to tighten across the U.S. grocery sector. Inbound shipment requirements increasingly go beyond temperature data alone. When used with the UBQ Network, FlashLink NOW loggers […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National, News
AppCard Launches Ask Pinky AI Reporting Agent For Independent Grocers
New York-based AppCard has launched Ask Pinky, an artificial intelligence business partner that allows independent grocers to query business data using natural language through a conversational interface, The tool builds on AppCard’s Pinky 2.0, which delivers digital coupons and promotions to shoppers based on individual spending and behavior. While Pinky 2.0 continues to drive shopper […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Anniversary Issues, Finance News, News, Retailer of the Year, Vallarta Supermarkets, West
Vallarta Moving To Broader Appeal – ‘We’ve Got To Give Everybody Something’
In 1985, the Gonzalez family opened a small market in Van Nuys, California, called Carnicería Vallarta. The family focused on selling traditional cuts of meats popular in their native Mexico. They worked hard to build a name for themselves by offering high-quality authentic products, providing a high level of customer service and treating employees as […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Finance News, Ingles Markets, News, Southeast
Ingles Markets Reports 6.6% Sales Increase In Annual Report
Ingles Markets reported net sales of $1.37 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 ended Dec. 27, a 6.6 percent increase compared with $1.29 billion for the same period last year, the Asheville, North Carolina-based grocer announced Feb. 5. Net income totaled $28.1 million for the first quarter compared with $16.6 million for the […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Association News, Finance News, News, Northeast
PFMA Applauds PA House Committee Vote On Swipe Fee Relief Bill
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association praised the Pennsylvania House Finance Committee for advancing House Bill 2090, legislation that would stop credit card companies from charging swipe fees on commonwealth sales tax. HB 2090 addresses an imbalance in the credit card marketplace where two payment networks control more than 80 percent of the market and impose […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Finance News, Market Profile, News, West
Grocery Development Continues Around Cities Across Arizona
As population and construction projects continue to grow in number in Arizona, the grocery industry is responding with growth of its own. Following is a roundup of some planned and recent store openings. On Jan. 12, Aldi announced its plans for 2026 and beyond, including 180 new stores as well as three new distribution centers. […]
Posted inAssociation News, Finance News, News, West
Natural Products Expo West Celebrates 45th Anniversary
Natural Products Expo West returns March 3-6 to Anaheim, California, with new features and a keynote lineup designed to elevate the attendee experience as the show celebrates its 45th anniversary. The leading event for the organic and natural products industry will feature educational sessions and networking opportunities covering sustainability practices and market trends. New show […]